Sealed compressor

ABSTRACT

A sealed compressor comprises an electric component; a compression component actuated by the electric component; a sealed container accommodating the electric component and the compression component; a suction pipe provided to suction a refrigerant into the sealed container; and a suction muffler having an inner space communicating with a compression chamber of the compression component and a suction port through which the refrigerant is suctioned into the inner space; a communicating passage for providing communication between the suction port of the suction muffler and the suction pipe, the communicating passage being made of a flexible material; and at least one cut portion provided in an end portion of the communicating passage at the suction pipe side such that the cut portion cuts a portion of the end portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sealed compressor. Particularly, thepresent invention relates to a structure for suctioning a refrigerantinto a compression component.

2. Description of the Related Art

There is known a conventional sealed compressor including acommunicating passage made of a flexible material, which providescommunication between a suction port of a suction muffler and a suctionpipe of the suction muffler, to improve an efficiency (see e.g.,Translation of PCT Application Publication No. Sho. 63-500878 andTranslation of PCT Application Publication No. 2010-502900).

Hereinafter, this conventional sealed compressor will be described.

The conventional sealed compressor includes a sealed container whichaccommodates an electric component, and a compression component actuatedby the electric component, and a suction pipe which providescommunication between inside of the sealed container and outside of thesealed container.

The electric component and the compression component are assembledintegrally. The electric component and the compression component areelastically supported in the sealed container by means of a plurality ofcoils.

The compression component includes a cylinder block in which acylindrical compression chamber is formed, a piston inserted into thecompression chamber such that the piston is reciprocatingly slidable,and a suction muffler having a muffling space communicating with thecommunication chamber.

The suction muffler includes a suction port through which the mufflingspace and an inner space of the sealed container communicate with eachother. The suction port is attached with a communicating passage whichprovides communication between the suction port and the suction pipe.

A tip end portion of the communicating passage encloses the suction pipeand is pressed to elastically contact a wall surface of the sealedcontainer.

Hereinafter, an operation of the conventional sealed compressor will bedescribed.

When a current is supplied to the electric component, a rotor rotates,and thereby the piston reciprocates within the compression chamber, andthe compression component performs a predetermined compressionoperation.

Thereupon, the refrigerant which has flowed from a cooling system issuctioned into the suction muffler from the suction pipe, via thecommunicating passage, and through the suction port. Then, therefrigerant is suctioned into the compression chamber through themuffling space. In the compression chamber, the refrigerant iscompressed by the reciprocating motion of the piston. Thereafter, therefrigerant is discharged to the cooling system again.

The refrigerant with a relatively low temperature is suctioned into thesuction muffler because the suction pipe and the suction port arecommunicated with each other via the communicating passage. As a result,a mass of the suctioned refrigerant (an amount of circulatedrefrigerant) per unit time increases, thereby improving an efficiency ofthe sealed compressor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in the conventional configuration, there is a possibility thatthe tip end portion of the communicating passage is pressed unevenlyagainst a curved surface of an inner wall of the sealed container. Inaddition, during transportation or stop of running of the sealedcompressor, the electric component and the compression component whichare elastically supported in the sealed container whirl, and thereby, aprying force is locally generated in the communicating passage. Thecommunicating passage has an annular shape and has a high stiffness.Because of this, the prying force is easily transmitted to a mountingmember by which the communicating passage is mounted to the suctionmuffler. If the prying force is applied to the communicating passagemany times, the mounting member of the communicating passage maypossibly be disengaged.

To avoid this, the sealed compressor disclosed in Translation of PCTApplication Publication No. 2010-502900 includes a clamp for securingthe communicating passage to the suction port. Since the clamp securesthe mounting member of the communicating passage, the mounting membercan be prevented from being disengaged. However, the compressioncomponent whirls around a tip end surface of the communicating passagepressed against the sealed container. If the prying force is appliedrepetitively to the communicating passage, a stress is generated in thevicinity of the mounting member of the communicating passagerepetitively, which may probably damage the communicating passage.

The present invention is directed to solving the above described problemassociated with the prior art, and an object of the present invention isto provide a highly reliable sealed compressor which suppresses a forcefrom being transmitted to the communicating passage, to prevent thecommunicating passage from being disengaged or damaged.

In order to solve the above described problem associated with the priorart, a sealed compressor of the present invention is configured suchthat a suction port of a suction muffler and a suction pipe arecommunicated with each other via a communicating passage made of aflexible material, and the communicating passage is provided with atleast one cut portion on an end portion thereof at the suction pipe sidesuch that the cut portion cuts a portion of the end portion.

In this configuration, the cut portion can reduce a stiffness of the endportion of the communicating passage at the suction pipe side, andmitigate a prying force. Therefore, it becomes possible to prevent thecommunicating passage from being disengaged or being damaged.

The communicating passage is pressed unevenly against the inner wallsurface of the sealed container, due to a variation in accuracy ofcomponents, a variation in centering adjustment of the compressioncomponent in assembling, etc., or the compression component whirs duringtransportation or at stop of running of the sealed compressor, andthereby a force is applied to a localized portion of the communicatingpassage. However, in accordance with the present invention, it becomespossible to suppress the force from being transmitted to thecommunicating passage, prevent the communicating passage from beingdisengaged or damaged. Thus, a highly reliable sealed compressor can beprovided.

The above and further objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will more fully be apparent from the following detaileddescription of preferred embodiments with accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a sealed compressor according to Embodiment1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sealed compressoraccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a communicating passage of the sealedcompressor according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of major components of the sealed compressoraccording to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in a state in whichthe communicating passage is pressed unevenly to the sealed container.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of major components of thesealed compressor according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A to 6C are views schematically showing external appearances ofcommunicating passages according to Modified examples of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a sealedcompressor comprises: an electric component; a compression componentactuated by the electric component; a sealed container accommodating theelectric component and the compression component; a suction pipeprovided to suction a refrigerant into the sealed container; and asuction muffler having an inner space communicating with a compressionchamber of the compression component and a suction port through whichthe refrigerant is suctioned into the inner space; a communicatingpassage for providing communication between the suction port of thesuction muffler and the suction pipe, the communicating passage beingmade of a flexible material; and at least one cut portion provided in anend portion of the communicating passage at the suction pipe side suchthat the cut portion cuts a portion of the end portion.

The term “cut portion” is defined as a portion which cuts a portion of aperipheral wall of the end portion of the communicating passage at thesuction pipe side. The cut portion may have a linear shape or a hollowshape having an area. Hereinafter, the linear-shaped cut portion will bereferred to as a “cut-in portion”, while the hollow cut portion havingan area will be referred to as “hollow portion.” For example, the cutportion may be formed in such a manner that after a communicatingpassage having no cut portion is manufactured, its end portion is cut,or that a communicating passage having a cut portion in an end portionthereof is manufactured by resin molding, etc.

The “end portion” is defined as an end surface of the communicatingpassage at the suction pipe side and a portion in the vicinity of theend surface.

In accordance with this configuration, during transportation or stop ofrunning of the sealed compressor, even when the compression componentelastically supported inside of the sealed container whirl, and therebythe communicating passage is pressed unevenly against the sealedcontainer, a prying force can be mitigated by the cut portion, and itbecomes possible to prevent a force from being transmitted to thecommunicating passage. Thus, it becomes possible to prevent thecommunicating passage from being disengaged and a portion in thevicinity of the communicating passage from being damaged, which would becaused by the prying force. As a result, it is possible to provide ahighly reliable sealed compressor.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the firstaspect, one end portion of the communicating passage is secured to thesuction muffler, and the other end of the communicating passage ispressed against a portion of an inner peripheral surface of the sealedcontainer which is around an opening end portion of the suction pipe.

In this configuration, the refrigerant which has returned from thecooling system is directly suctioned into the suction muffler.Therefore, a mass of the suctioned refrigerant per unit time increases,and the efficiency of the compressor is improved. Since thecommunicating passage is pressed against the inner wall surface of thesealed container, the prying force increases. However, this prying forceis mitigated by the cut portion. Therefore, damage to the communicatingpassage can be prevented.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the firstaspect, the cut portion may extend inward from an end portion of thecommunicating passage at the suction pipe side.

In this configuration, since the end portion of the communicatingpassage at the suction pipe side is cut, stiffness of the end portion ofthe communicating passage at the suction pipe side can be reducedeffectively and easily.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the firstaspect, the cut portion may have a linear shape.

In this configuration, since the cut portion has the linear shape, anamount of a warm refrigerant gas which is suctioned from an inner spaceof the sealed container into the suction muffler can be lessened. Thus,reduction of the efficiency of the sealed compressor can be suppressed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourthaspect, the linear-shaped cut portion may extend in the axial directionof the communicating passage.

If the cut portion extends in a circumferential direction of thecommunicating passage, a tensile strength in an axial direction of thecommunicating passage is reduced, and the communicating passage is morelikely to be damaged. However, since the cut portion extends in theaxial direction of the communicating passage, the stiffness of the endportion of the communicating passage at the suction pipe side can bereduced while suppressing reduction of a tensile stress in the axialdirection of the communicating passage.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the firstaspect, at least one cut portion is positioned at a lower end side ofthe communicating passage.

In this configuration, since the communicating passage is closelymounted to the sealed container, liquid refrigerant or oil having agreat specific gravity stays in a bottom portion of the communicatingpassage. The liquid refrigerant or oil is discharged through the cutportion. As a result, it becomes possible to provide a sealed compressorwhich has a high reliability and a high efficiency.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the drawings. The embodiment is in no wayintended to limit the present invention.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a sealed compressor according to Embodiment1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view ofthe sealed compressor according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a communicating passage ofthe sealed compressor according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of major components of the sealedcompressor according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in astate in which the communicating passage is displaced from a properlocation. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of major components ofthe sealed compressor according to Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a sealed container 101 stores oil 102 in abottom portion thereof, and accommodates an electric component 105including a stator 103 and a rotor 104, and a compression component 106actuated by the electric component 105, and a suction pipe 107 whichprovides communication between inside of the sealed container 101 andoutside of the sealed container 101.

The electric component 105 and the compression component 106 areassembled integrally. The electric component 105 and the compressioncomponent 106 are elastically supported inside of the sealed container101, by means of a plurality of coil springs 108. Although the coilsprings 108 are used as an elastic support member, it is sufficient thatthe elastic support member is a member which elastically supports theelectric component 105 and the compression component 106.

As the compression component 106, a known compressor may be used. In thepresent embodiment, as the compression component 106, a reciprocatingcompressor is used. The compression component 106 includes, for example,a cylinder block 110 in which a cylindrical compression chamber 109 isformed, a piston 111 inserted into the compression chamber 109 such thatthe piston 111 is reciprocatingly slidable, and a suction muffler 112having a muffling space (inner space) 120 communicating with thecompression chamber 109.

The suction muffler 112 includes a suction port 113 through which themuffling space 120 and an inner space of the sealed container 101communicate with each other. Through the suction port 113, refrigerantis suctioned into the muffling space 120. The suction port 113 and thesuction pipe 107 are communicated with each other via a communicatingpassage 114. The communicating passage 114 is made of a flexiblematerial.

In the present embodiment, the communicating passage 114 is made of, forexample, NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber). One end portion (base endportion) of the communicating passage 114 is secured to the suctionmuffler 112, while the other end portion (tip end portion) thereof ispressed against a portion of an inner peripheral surface of the sealedcontainer 101 which is around an opening end of the suction pipe 107.

The communicating passage 114 and the suction port 113 of the suctionmuffler 112 may be secured to each other by means of a clamp and thelike.

The communicating passage 114 extends from the suction port 113 of thesuction muffler 112 to guide the refrigerant from the suction pipe 107to the suction port 113 of the suction muffler 112. The communicatingpassage 114 encloses the opening end of the suction pipe 107 and ispressed against the inner wall surface of the sealed container 101 so asto elastically contact the inner wall surface. The communicating passage114 has at least one cut-in portion 117 at the sealed container 101side.

In the present embodiment, the communicating passage 114 has the cut-inportion (linear-shaped cut portion) 117 extending inward in an axialdirection of the communicating passage 114 from an end surface of thecommunication passage 114 at the inner wall surface side of the sealedcontainer 101 (end at the suction pipe 107 side).

The cut-in portion 117 has a circular hollow portion at a tip endthereof. This circular cut portion can prevent the cut-in portion 117from spreading axially inward with a passage of a use time of the sealedcompressor. The hollow portion may have a desired shape, or may beomitted.

An opening of the cut-in portion 117 is formed to have a minimumdimension and designed so that portions at both sides of the cut-inportion 117 are not apart from each other, under no load condition. Aportion of the cut-in portion 117 is disposed at a lower end side of thecommunicating passage 114 and at a lower surface side of the compressor.

In the present embodiment, as the refrigerant, R600a is used.Alternatively, R134a, R410a, or another refrigerant may be used.

Next, an operation and advantages of the sealed compressor configured asdescribed above will be described.

When a current is supplied from an outside power supply to the electriccomponent 105, the rotor 104 rotates. Thereby, the piston 111reciprocates within the compression chamber 109 and the compressioncomponent 106 performs a predetermined compression operation.

During a suction process, a pressure in the combustion chamber 109 islowered. With this, a pressure in the communicating passage 114 islowered, so that the refrigerant is guided from an outside refrigerationsystem (not shown) to the interior of the compressor via the suctionpipe 107.

The refrigerant is guided to the communicating passage 114 through thesuction pipe 107 and then is suctioned into the compression chamber 109through the muffling space 120 of the suction muffler 112.

The refrigerant is compressed within the compression chamber 109 by thereciprocating motion of the piston 111, and then discharged to thecooling system again. At this time, a pulsation of the refrigerant whichis caused by the compression is damped in the muffling space 120 of thesuction muffler 112 and thereby a noise is mitigated.

Since the suction pipe 113 and the suction pipe 107 are communicatedwith each other via the communicating passage 114, the refrigerant witha relatively low temperature is suctioned into the suction muffler 112,and compressed in the compression chamber 109. As a result, a mass ofthe suctioned refrigerant (an amount of circulated refrigerant) per unittime increases, and a freezing ability increases, thereby improving anefficiency of the sealed compressor.

Since the compression component 106 is elastically supported in thesealed container 101 by means of the coil springs 108, the compressioncomponent 106 is displaced significantly under an influence of the rotor104 at start-up of the compressor. Or, at stop of the compressor, thepiston 111 is pushed back by a pressure within the compression chamber109, and thereby the compression component 106 is displacedsignificantly. The coil springs 108 are configured to have low stiffnessto damp a vibration generated in the compression component 106 andtransmitted to the sealed container 101 so that a vibration of thecompressor is reduced. And, it is difficult to prevent the compressioncomponent 106 from being displaced. If the stiffness of thecommunicating passage 114 mounted so as to contact the inner wallsurface of the sealed container 101 is high, a communicating passagemounting member 115 will be damaged (disengaged) by an impact generatedby a collision between the communicating passage 114 and the sealedcontainer 101, which is caused by the significant displacement of thecompression component 106 at start-up and at stop of the compressor.

However, since the communicating passage 114 is provided with the cut-inportion 117, the cut-in portion 117 is deflected even when thecompression component 106 is displaced significantly. Thereby, theimpact caused by the collision between the communicating passage 114 andthe sealed container 101 can be damped, and damage to the communicatingpassage 114 can be avoided.

During transportation or stop of running of the sealed compressor, evenwhen the compression component 106 elastically supported inside of thesealed container 101 whirl, and thereby the communicating passage 114 ispressed unevenly against the inner wall surface of the sealed container101, a prying force can be mitigated by the cut-in portion 117, and itbecomes possible to prevent a force from being transmitted to thecommunicating passage 114. Thus, it becomes possible to prevent thecommunicating passage 114 from being disengaged and a portion in thevicinity of the communicating passage 114 from being damaged, whichwould be caused by the prying force. As a result, it is possible toprovide a highly reliable sealed compressor.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, one end portion of thecommunicating passage 114 is secured to the suction muffler 112, and theother end portion of the communicating passage 114 is pressed against aportion of the inner peripheral surface of the sealed container 101which is around the opening end portion of the suction pipe 107. In thisconfiguration, the refrigerant which has returned from the coolingsystem is directly suctioned into the suction muffler 112. Therefore, amass of the suctioned refrigerant per unit time increases, and theefficiency of the compressor is improved. Since the communicatingpassage 114 is pressed against the inner wall surface of the sealedcontainer 101, the prying force increases. However, this prying force ismitigated by the cut-in portion 117. Therefore, damage to thecommunicating passage 114 can be prevented.

In the present embodiment, the cut-in portion 117 extends inward fromthe end portion of the communicating passage 114 at the suction pipe 107side. Since the end portion of the communicating passage 114 at thesuction pipe 107 side is cut, stiffness of the end portion of thecommunicating passage 114 at the suction pipe 107 side can be reducedeffectively and easily.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the cut-in portion 117 has alinear shape. Because of this, an amount of the warm refrigerant gaswhich is suctioned from an inner space of the sealed container 101 intothe suction muffler 112 can be lessened. Thus, reduction of theefficiency of the sealed compressor can be suppressed.

In the present embodiment, the linear-shaped cut-in portion 117 extendsin the axial direction of the communicating passage 114. If the cut-inportion 117 extends in the circumferential direction of thecommunicating passage 114, a tensile strength in the axial direction ofthe communicating passage 114 is reduced, and the communicating passage114 is more likely to be damaged. However, since the cut-in portion 117extends in the axial direction of the communicating passage 114 asdescribed above, stiffness of the end portion of the communicatingpassage 114 at the suction pipe 107 side can be reduced whilesuppressing reduction of the tensile strength in the axial direction ofthe communicating passage 114.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, a portion of the cut-in portion 117is disposed at a lower end side of the communicating passage 114. In acase where the refrigerant guided to the communicating passage 114through the suction pipe 107 is liquid refrigerant, or contains plentyof oil 102, as shown in FIG. 5, a portion of the liquid refrigerant oroil 102 stays in a lower surface portion of the communicating passage114, because its specific gravity is great. However, the liquidrefrigerant or oil 102 is discharged through the cut-in portion 117.This makes it possible to prevent the liquid refrigerant or oil 102 frombeing suctioned through the communicating passage 114. As a result, itbecomes possible to prevent reduction of a suction efficiency of therefrigerant.

Specifically, the communicating passage 114 is closely mounted to thesealed container 101, the liquid refrigerant or oil 102 having a greatspecific gravity stays in the bottom portion of the communicatingpassage 114. The liquid refrigerant or oil 102 is discharged through thecut-in portion 117. As a result, it becomes possible to provide a sealedcompressor which has a high reliability and a high efficiency.

Although in the present embodiment, three cut portions 117 are providedat intervals of 120 degrees, at least one cut-in portion 117 may beprovided. For example, two, or four or more cut-in portions may beprovided.

(Modified example)

Although in the present embodiment, the communicating passage 114includes the cut-in portion 117 extending in the axial direction of thecommunicating passage 114 inward from the end surface at the inner wallsurface side of the sealed container 101, another configuration may beprovided so long as a portion of the cut-in portion 117 is disposed atthe lower end side at the communicating passage 114.

FIGS. 6A to 6C are views schematically showing external appearances ofcommunicating passages according to Modified examples of the presentinvention. FIG. 6A shows first Modified example. FIG. 6B shows secondModified example. FIG. 6C shows third Modified example.

Specifically, FIG. 6A shows a linear-shaped cut portion. FIG. 6B showsan example of a hollow portion in which a cut portion has a hollow shapehaving an area. FIG. 6C shows another example of a hollow portion inwhich a cut portion has a hollow shape having an area.

In first Modified example, in a communicating passage 114A, a cut-inportion 117A extends in the axial direction of the communicating passage114A at the suction pipe 107 side. The cut-in portion 117A may extend ina desired direction.

In second Modified example, in a communicating passage 114B, a hollowportion 117B has a semi-circular shape and is provided on an end surfaceof the communicating passage 114B at the suction pipe 107 side. Thehollow portion 117B may have a desired shape.

In third Modified example, in a communicating passage 114C, a hollowportion 117C has a circular shape and is provided at the suction pipe107 side. The hollow portion 117C may have a desired shape.

In another Modified example, any of the cut-in portion 117A, the hollowportion 117B, and the hollow portion 117C may be combined suitably. Inany case, since it is possible to prevent the communicating passage 114from being disengaged and a portion in the vicinity of the communicatingpassage 114 from being damaged, which would be caused by the pryingforce. As a result, it is possible to provide a highly reliable sealedcompressor.

The sealed compressor of the present invention is applicable to sealedcompressors for use with air conditioners, refrigerator-freezer devices,automatic dispensers, heat pump hot water supply devices, heat pumplaundry machines, etc.

Numeral modifications and alternative embodiments of the presentinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of theforegoing description. Accordingly, the description is to be construedas illustrative only, and is provided for the purpose of teaching thoseskilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. Thedetails of the structure and/or function may be varied substantiallywithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sealed compressor comprising: an electriccomponent; a compression component actuated by the electric component; asealed container accommodating the electric component and thecompression component; a suction pipe provided to suction a refrigerantinto the sealed container; and a suction muffler having an inner spacecommunicating with a compression chamber of the compression componentand a suction port through which the refrigerant is suctioned into theinner space; a communicating passage for providing communication betweenthe suction port of the suction muffler and the suction pipe, thecommunicating passage being made of a flexible material; and at leastone cut portion provided in an end portion of the communicating passageat the suction pipe side such that the cut portion cuts a portion of theend portion.
 2. The sealed compressor according to claim 1, wherein oneend portion of the communicating passage is secured to the suctionmuffler, and the other end portion of the communicating passage ispressed against a portion of an inner peripheral surface of the sealedcontainer which is around an opening end portion of the suction pipe. 3.The sealed compressor according to claim 1, wherein the cut portionextends inward from an end portion of the communicating passage at thesuction pipe side.
 4. The sealed compressor according to claim 1,wherein the cut portion has a linear shape.
 5. The sealed containeraccording to claim 4, wherein the linear-shaped cut portion extends inan axial direction of the communicating passage.
 6. The sealedcompressor according to claim 1, wherein at least one cut portion ispositioned at a lower end side of the communicating passage.